New Directions

Change can be hard. But it can also shake up tired norms, breathe new life into old ways of working and open the door for fresh opportunities to make an impact. This month's articles explore how Paris 2024 is charting a more sustainable path for sporting events, and why an industry shift is compelling real estate professionals to ditch win-lose negotiation tactics in favour of more collaborative and strategic approaches.

Other articles examine how rethinking the notion of productivity could help organisations reap the benefits of a more engaged and motivated workforce; offer recommendations for leaders to help their teams and companies negotiate the world of artificial intelligence (AI); and look into what must be done differently to harness the full potential of venture capital (VC) investments in Africa.

Paris 2024: A Model for Greener Games

With an ambitious plan to halve greenhouse gas emissions, Paris 2024 was designed for sustainability from the outset. INSEAD alumna Georgina Grenon , who serves as the event's Director of Sustainability, and her team developed comprehensive estimates for the direct and indirect emissions associated with each activity so that appropriate actions could be taken.

INSEAD's Atalay Atasu and Luk Van Wassenhove explain the ingredients for this success and how the lasting sustainability ecosystem will inform not just future games and events, but also wider efforts to decarbonise business and society.

How Can Companies Rethink the Idea of Productivity?

Traditional productivity metrics – be it efficiency, work quality and output, or the number of projects completed on time and on budget – are used by many organisations to assess the value employees bring to a company. This is the sole aspect some managers use to determine promotions, salary bumps and performance bonuses.

However, some companies and leaders may take this too far. INSEAD’s Henrik Bresman suggests that to truly benefit from an engaged and motivated workforce, organisations must broaden their definition of productivity to also account for the mental and physical well-being of their employees.

Navigating the Future With a Human Touch

The advent of AI is poised to significantly impact organisational leadership by transforming decision-making, team management and innovation processes. As we explore its incredible potential, it's clear that leaders must adapt to leverage these technologies effectively and address the new ethical and cultural issues they raise.

INSEAD's Graham Ward,Ph.D, PCC suggests that leaders will remain indispensable in helping their teams and firms negotiate this brave new world. To do so successfully, they need to adopt a dual mindset, while helping to maintain and create moments of deep, thoughtful human interactions.

How Africa Can Embrace Venture Capital

More work is needed to fully unlock the potential of VC investments in Africa. By actively seeking out and supporting African-led start-ups, investors can tap into the region’s vast opportunities, while also contributing to the long-term growth and development of the dynamic continent, say Strathmore University’s Edwin Obonyo and INSEAD’s Claudia Zeisberger .

Offering ventures early-stage VC funding doesn’t just help the start-up – it enables local investors to develop their knowledge of VC investing, underlines the value of local expertise and strengthens all-important network ties between local and international investors.

The Negotiation Reality in Real Estate

Real estate professionals have long leaned heavily on win-lose or power-based negotiation strategies. This adversarial mindset has often justified aggressive tactics, including deception and even direct threats.

Amid a changing market landscape, those working in real estate need to adopt more collaborative and strategic approaches that not only aim at securing favourable deals but also at fostering robust and enduring relationships. INSEAD’s Horacio Falcao examines the forces driving this shift and suggests strategies to promote more ethical, sustainable and win-win negotiation practices.

We hope these articles inspire you to embark on new pathways of your own. For more insights, listen to our podcast with INSEAD's Jean-Claude Larreche on how a new industry reality has shifted the role of salespeople within firms. Do also check out the latest research highlights from INSEAD's Lily Fang .

Have a knowledgeable week ahead!

The INSEAD Knowledge team